Make sure your pet is ready for a hurricane

Since we just missed a hurricane, I thought today would be a good time to review our hurricane preparedness tips for pet owners.

For several days before Isaac, I found myself dispensing and scripting out travel and storm anxiety medications for clients who knew their pets would have difficulty with the storm.

Keep in mind that a veterinarian cannot dispense medications for a pet unless the pet has been seen within the last year and has a satisfactory patient-veterinarian relationship. We were fortunate to have enough notice with Isaac, but in years past I have had clients calling for medicine the day before the hurricane was scheduled to make landfall, asking for pills and being told that they must schedule an appointment before we can dispense anything. Donít let that happen to you.

If you know your pet will need medication for storms or travel, be sure your pet is up to date on yearly exams. If your pet is on any daily medications, be sure to have at least two weeks of the medication with you. This is true for humans that are on daily medications also.

Keep your pet up to date on its rabies vaccination and other vaccinations that may be due. If you evacuate and have to put your pet in a kennel, most kennels will not board your pet without proof of vaccines. Have a copy of vaccines at home readily available to take with you. Shelters that accept pets also require proof of vaccines.

A rabies tag on a collar is a great form of ID in case your pet is lost. Another great source of ID is the microchip. Many pets have been located because a found pet was scanned for microchip information and traced to the owner.

Safely confining your pet is a priority. In advance, get a pet carrier that will fit your pet so that it can comfortably stand up and turn around. Allow your pet to become comfortable with this so that he will not mind going in it during a storm. Also have your pet trained to a leash and take the leash and carrier with you when you travel.

Have enough food and other supplies such as cat litter for two weeks of use. Canned food stores most readily, so get cans and a manual can opener. Also be prepared to have clean drinking water for your pet. If it is not safe for you to drink, it can make your pet sick too.

If I had to pick three things that I would say are most important to prepare for evacuation with a pet, I would have to say a carrier of the proper size, vaccine history, and a leash for dogs or cat litter and a small pan for cats.

A little preparation will go a long way. I was really impressed with the preparedness of our area this time around. There seemed to be a lot of confidence in the Floridians ability to deal with this situation.